China Media

Biz China anchor Rita Zhao will likely be following in the footsteps of Jacqueline Chen who announced her resignation from CCTV 9 earlier this month. According to her personal website, Rita Zhao joined CCTV 9 as an anchor in January 2005. Word is she plans on heading to the United States and will focus on other side projects once she returns to China. She’s expected to leave Biz China within the next few weeks.

China Media has learned, over the past several weeks, that France 24 and Iran’s Press TV are looking for help in Beijing. Press TV is specifically looking for a correspondent based in Beijing. You can watch their news coverage on their website.

France 24 is France’s new 24-hour all news network. You can also watch their coverage on their website. They are looking for help in their Beijing bureau, however staff must be able to speak fluent English and French. 

Information on applying for the France 24 job can be found on their website. Those interested in working for Press TV can email Sarah. 

She’s one of China Radio International’s most beloved employees.  She sits in the corner of her office among the other audio editors, but news people and other hosts routinely call her out to help them out.

Hong Chuan has given her resignation at CRI, and it has shocked many of the staff.  She has recently purchased a home with her fiance on the outskirts of Beijing, however she is still unsure what she will do following her tenure at CRI.

China Media must also credit Hong Chuan with being a good friend, and helping adjust to life in China.  She is a wonderful person, and she will be missed by the staff at CRI (especially her good friend who works in the Education Department, Lu Ting).  We wish her all the best. 

Many people may be wondering what happened to Rick O’Shea and Yuanyuan and their popular evening music show on China Radio International’s Easy FM.  Well, wonder no more.

China Radio International has a policy of only allowing foreign employees to continue working there for less than 10 years.  Under government regulations, according to some of the employees at CRI, staff (including foreign staff) are entitled to a fairly major bonus if they reach the 10-year mark.  Other employees of CRI have been let go prior to their 10 year anniversary, including Stuart Parkins (sorry for the mis-spelling, Stuart!), who had devoted his time and effort to growing CRI.

Unfortunately, Rick O’Shea, after many years with the organization, was on the cusp of his 10 year anniversary.  He was relieved of his duties, and Ding Yuanyuan resigned shortly thereafter.  Yuanyuan is planning on marrying her fiance in the port city of Xiamen.  No word on what Rick is up to.

Their show has been replaced by Richard and Yuting’s music show, which has had a tough time filling the large shoes left by Rick and Yuanyuan. However China Media has no doubt they will eventually find their own place on China’s radio landscape.

Interfax China is owned by the Russian government, but is a strong international news agency with a global reach.  Interfax’s stories are distributed on the Bloomberg and Reuters wire services.

Interfax is looking for reporters in Shanghai and Beijing.  They are rapidly expanding their Beijing bureau, and filling positions in the capital is their biggest need.  Interfax also has offices in Hong Kong. All editor/reporter jobs come with a highly-coveted journalists visa.  If you are interested, email chris@interfax.cn. 

Leeney Zhou, the popular PR manager of the Radisson Hotel New World in Shanghai is heading home. Leeney is known for her cheery personality and ability to become friends with nearly everyone.  The Kunming-native is heading back to her hometown after nearly a decade in Shanghai.  Her and her husband plan to settle in Yunnan province.  She doesn’t have a job in Kunming yet, although she may contribute some articles to the website Go Kunming. Shanghai’s Radisson New World is still looking for a replacement.

The Guangzhou English Channel continues to look for a full-time TV host after I left earlier this year.  The channel is China’s first regional all-English television channel, and has an opening for host of Discover Guangzhou and its Hot Spots segment.  The channel’s other popular show, Lingnan Gallery, has recently found a replacement by the name of Anthony, from the United Kingdom.  People interested in working in China’s Pearl River Delta should email yinjie@gztv.com.

It looks like Jacqueline Chen is prepared to leave CCTV 9… again.  The popular anchor of Biz China left CCTV 9 about a year ago to return to the United Kingdom.  She returned to China when her British-born husband was posted here, but she plans to leave the international news channel in the next few weeks.  CCTV 9 has a couple of openings now for on-air anchors, with Biz China having the biggest need.

Jacqueline Chen at the Biz China anchor desk at CCTV 9. 

Welcome!  This blog will take a look at what’s happening in China’s media, journalism, and PR industry. We aim to keep track of who’s doing what and who’s going where.  If you work as a foreign correspondent, state-run media journalist, PR consultant or manager, please keep us in touch with what’s happening at your shop.  We also aim to post jobs available within the industry. You can email tips to chinamediatips@gmail.com.